Fumes burner



ec. 1 1970 D, GLADU ETAL h FUMES BURNER Filed May 31, 1967 INVENTURS IVO/?MAN D. GLADU BY GORDO/Y N. GLADU ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,547,592 FUMES BURNER Norman D. Gladu, 20228 53rd A Ave., and Gordon N. Gladu, 15065 Pheasent Drive, both of Langley, British Columbia, Canada Filed May 31, 1967, Ser. No. 642,529 Int. Cl. F23g 7/06 U.S. Cl. 23-277 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Two elongated conduit loops are disposed in superposed nesting relationship. An inlet conduit is connected to one end of a first loop, and an Outlet conduit is connected to the opposite end of the second loop. A Straight conduit connects the end of the first conduit loop opposite the inlet conduit and the end of the second conduit loop opposite the outlet conduit. The first conduit loop contains mixing and mufi'ling baffies. 'Ignitors of electric Spark or gas flame type are mounted in the side of the Straight connecting conduit to nduce combustion of incompletely oxygenated components of the gas.

A principal Object of the invention is to oxygenate or burn as completely as possible fumes of various types which may include products of incomplete combustion.

A further object is to provide in such a burner assembly noise-reducing structure so that the burner also will serve as a muifler.

Another object is to provide such a burner construction which is effective, yet compact, and particularly such a device which is quite fiat while providing a relatively long passage for flow of gas therethrough.

An additional object is to provide such a device which will produce minimum back pressure On the flow of gas through it.

In addition, it is an Object to provide such a device which will be of simple configuration and economical to construct.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a fumes burner structure, Showing the casing in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a plan of the fumes burner with parts broken away, and FIG. 3 is a side elevation of such burner also having parts broken away.

FIG. 4 is a detail elevation of a portion of the burner structure on an enlarged Scale to illustrate an ignitor, and FIG. 5 is a section through the same portion of the device taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the device with parts broken away to reveal a different type of ignitor, and FIG. 7 is a detail section through an ignitor of the type shown in FIG. 6.

While the fumes burner of the present invention can be utilized advantageously for various applications and its structure can differ for such various applications, the fumes burner is particularly useful as a combined muffler and afterburner for automobiles. The particular configuration illustrated in the drawings is especially suitable for such automotive use because it is compact and generally fiat, while providing a long gas passage beneficial for providing thorough mixing of the components of the fumes prior to oxygenation, and cooling and mufiling of the gas both before and after postcombustion. While Such form of the device is particularly useful for automotive applications, the same general form can be utilized conveniently and efectively for other applications.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the fumes burner is illustrated as including two elongated conduit endless loops disposed in superposed nesting relationship, including an upper longer and wider loop and a lower shorter and narrower loop so that the upper loop is of greater loop 3547592 Patented Dec. 15, 1 970 "Ice Circuit length than the lower loop. Each of the loops'includes Straight Side conduit portions connecting the ends of arcuate end conduit portions. Thus the upper loop shown in FIG. 1 includes parallel Straight Side conduit stretches 1 connecting corresponding ends of arcuate end sections 2, which are curved substantially semicircularly. The side conduit sections 1 are thus Spaced apart a. distance substantially equal to the diameter of each arcuate end section 2. The adjacent ends of the i Straight conduit section 1 and the arcuate conduit sections 2 conveniently can be joined 'by butt-welded joints.

The Straight side conduit stretches 3 of the lower loop are shown particularly in FIG. 2 as being located Closer together than the Straight side conduit sections 1 of the upper loop. The arcuate end sections 4 of the lower loop are also smaller than the arcuate sections 2 of the upper loop being curved on substantially semicircular arcs of shorter radius, although it is preferred that the cross-sectional size of the arcuate conduit section 4 be substantially the Same as the croSs-Sectional size of the arcuate conduit sections 2. The Straight conduit sections 3 connect corresponding ends of the arcuate end conduit sections 4, and Such connections preferably are made by butt welding.

As shown best in FIG. 3, it is preferred that the upper loop and the lower loop be disposed in closely adjacent relationship. Also it is preferred, as shown best in FIG. 2, that the two loops be arranged With their major and minor aXes respectively in the same Vertical perpendicularly-intersecting planes. The two loops are held in such relationship by a Straight median-connecting conduit 5, one end of which is formed as a saddle 6 which is welded to the inner side of an arcuate end conduit section 2 of the upper and larger loop, and the opposite end of such conduit is formed as a saddle 7 which is welded to the inner side of the arcuate end conduit portion 4 at the opposite end of the lower loop.

An inlet conduit 8 for the fumes has an end saddle 9, which is welded to the outer Convex side of the end conduit section 2 of the upper larger loop remote from the end of such loop to which the medan-connecting conduit *S is attached. An outfiow conduit 10 passes beneath the saddle 6 of the connecting conduit 5 and the arcuate upper loop end to which it is connected and has a saddle 11 connected to the Convex outer side of the arcuate end conduit portion of the lower and smaller loop opposite the end of such loop to which the connecting conduit 5 is attached.

Along the median conduit 5 are located igniters 12 at Spaced intervals. Such igniters may be arranged in a row along a side of such conduit as shown best in FIGS. l and 3. The purpose of Such igniters is to nduce com bustion of oXidiZable material in the fumes passing through the device. In particular it is desirable to complete the oXidatiOn of such noxious components of the fumes as carbon monoxide to convert it to carbon dioxide. The igniters shown in FIGS. l to 5, inclusive, are of the electric Spark gap type, and preferably each igniter produces a continuous Spark discharge. One terminal of each igniter is illustrated as being connected to a common Wire 13 to which electricity is supplied by a lead 14. The other terminal of each igniter can be grounded to the conduit 5, and the source of electricity can have a terminal grounded to some part of the device illustrated to complete an electric Circuit through each igniter.

Details of a representative igniter of the electric Spark discharge type are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A collar 15 which is threaded internally is welded to a side of the connecting conduit 5 in a position encircling and concentric with a hole 16 eXtending through the Side of such conduit. Through this hole projects a headed plug 17 of insulating material, which is held in place by an externally threaded annular retaining nut 18 screwed into the outer end of the collar 15. The grounded electrode rod 19 extends through a retaining Sleeve 20 received in an aperture of the plug 17, and the outer end of such rod is connected to a metal Washer 21 clamped between the retaining nut 18 and plug 17 and grounded through nut 18 and the collar 15 to the conduit 5. The live electrode rod 22 extends through a Second retaining Sleeve 23 received in another aperture in the plug 17, and its outer end is connected to the wire 13 by a coupling 24.

The inner ends of the electrode rods 19 and 22 are disposed in closely adjacent relationship such as by the inner end of the live electrode rod 22 being bent to provide a portion 25 extending toward the grounded electrode rod 19. The spacing between the inner ends of the electrode rods 19 and 22 should be such that the electric current suppliedto them will produce a hot Spark discharge. The material of which the rods 19 and 22 are made and the amount of electric current fiowing through them may be such that such electrode rods will be heated to a red heat so as to provide a heating source, in addition to the Spark passing through the electrode rods, for further inducing oxidation and combustion of material in the fumes passing through the connecting conduit 5. Alternatively, for some Operations a glow plug or automotive type of Spark plug may provide sufiicient heating to induce the desired oxidation and combustion of components of the fumes.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a different type of igniter which utilizes a gas jet. In this instance the plug 17 nserted through the aperture 16 in the side of a conduit and held in place by the nut 18 screwed into the collar has apertures receiving the retaining sleeves and 23 spaced apart farther than Such apertures in the plug illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The center of such plug has a larger aperture through it which receives a gas supply pipe 26. The inner end of such pipe carries a gas jet noZZle 27. Such gas jet can be ignited by a Spark passing between electrodes 19' and 22' that pass through the holding sleeves 20 and 23, respectively. The electrode 19' is grounded to the conduit 5 and electricity is supplied to the other electrode 22' by Wire 13'. Alternatively, the gas jet projected from the noZZle 27 could be ignited by a pilot light.

When the fumes burner apparatus is used in an automotive installation, it has been found to be desirable to provide a small pipe 28 connecting the end portion of the larger loop 1, 2 remote from the inflow conduit 8 back to the exhaust manifold adjacent to the engine, to which the inflow conduit 8 is connected. Also, it is desirable to include, at least in the first loop, a plurality of bafiies serving the dual purpose of promoting intimate mixing of components of the fumes and muffling the gas. A perforated bale 29 may, for example, be placed in the central portion of each side conduit 1 of the first loop, as indicated in FIGS. l and 2. The fumes may be required to follow a somewhat tortuous path by providing semicircular battle plates 30 and 31 arranged respectively at opposite Sides of the perforated baflie plate 29 and disposed at respectively opposite Sides of the conduit, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The size, shape and relationship of the upper and lower loops of the fumes burner shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 should be such as to provide a long path of travel of the fumes which Will promote thorough mixing and cooling of the fumes with the creation of minimum back pressure, While being sutficiently compact so that the unit can be mounted conveniently beneath the chassis of an automoble or Within apertures of Such a chassis. For protection and neatness of appearance it is also desirable to enclose the unit with a casing 32, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in phantom in FIG. 1.

Fumes entering the device through the inflow conduit 8 Separate at the junction of such conduit with the first loop into two streams. Since such inflow conduit connects radially to the substantially Semicircular end conduit 2, the gas flow will be diverted Sharply as it is thus split, as indicated by the broken arrows in FIG. 2. As the fumes pass through the side conduits 1 of this loop their flow around and through the baffles 29, 30 and 31 Will increase the mixing action. Such mixing Will be promoted further as the split Streams meet the end of the loop opposite the inflow conduit 8 and again are diverted substantially perpendicularly to flow through the connecting conduit 5.

AS the fumes flow through the connecting conduit 5 the igniters 12 Or 12' will ignite or oxidiZe oxidizable components of the fumes, both for the purpose of deodorizng the fumes and rendering them innocuous. Such oxidized fumes Will -be much less prone to create smog when released into the atmosphere. Circulation of the oxidized fumes through the Second lower conduit loop 3,4 before being discharged through the outflow conduit 10 will cool the gas to some eXtent as Well as further reducing its noise.

We Claim:

1. A fumes burner comprising conduit means through which oxidizable fumes are passed, a fumes inlet conduit connected to said conduit means and supplying combustion engine exhaust gas fumes to said conduit means, a gas outlet conduit connected to a portion of said conduit means remote from the connection of said fumes inlet conduit through which gas is discharged from said conduit means, said conduit means including two endless conduit loops in superposed relationship, and a plurality of igniter means spaced along the length of Said conduit means for inducing oxidation of such fumes.

2. A fumes burner comprising conduit means through which oxidizable fumes are passed, a fumes inlet conduit connected to said conduit means and supplying combustion engine exhaust gas fumes to said conduit means, a gas outlet conduit connected to a portion of said conduit means remote from the connection of said fumes inlet conduit through which gas is discharged from said conduit means, said conduit means including two endless conduit loops in nested relationship, and a plurality of igniter means spaced along the length of said conduit means for inducing oxidation of such fumes.

3. A fumes burner comprising conduit means through which oxidizable fumes are passed, a fumes inlet conduit connected to said conduit means and supplying combustion engine exhaust gas fumes to said conduit means, a gas outlet conduit connected to a portion of Said conduit means remote from the connection of said fumes inlet conduit through which gas is discharged from said conduit means, said conduit means including an endless conduit loop, and a plurality Of igniter means spaced along the length of said conduit means for inducing oxidation of such fumes.

4. A fumes burner comprising conduit means through which oxidizable fumes are passed, a fumes inlet conduit connected to said conduit means and supplying combustion engine exhaust gas fumes to said conduit means, a gas outlet conduit connected to a portion of said conduit means remote from the connection of said fumes inlet conduit through which gas is discharged from said conduit means, said conduit means including two endless elongated conduit loops in superposed relationship arranged with their major aXes and their minor axes substantially in the same intersecting planes, respectively, disposed transversely of said loops, said fumes inlet conduit being connected to one of said loops, Said gas outlet conduit being connected to the other of said loops, a connecting conduit connecting said loops, and a plurality of igniter means spaced along the length of said conduit means for inducing oxidation of such fumes.

5. The fumes burner defined in Claim 4, in which the igniter means includes igniters mounted in the connecting conduit.

6 6. The fumes burner defined in Claim 4, in which the 1,791,912 2/1931 Story 23-284 loop from which gas is supplied to the connecting con- 2,889,002 6/1959 Kocee 23--277C duit is of greater loop Circuit length than the loop to 3,036,897 5/1962 Uphofi '23-288.3F which gas is discharged from the connecting conduit. 3,146,072 8/1964 'Morgan 23--277C 7. The fumes burner defined in Claim 4, and baffles 3,285,709 11/1966 Ennarino et al. 23-2770 dsposed in the conduit loop from which gas is supplied to th n ti d it; JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Pnmary Examiner References Cted U.S. CI. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 23-2; --29, 30; -8; 126-91; 181-36; 431-5,

1,-244,864 10/1917 Kemp et al. 126 9lA 

